Niche backlighting apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus includes a frame having an inner cavity, and a first substrate disposed at a backing panel of the inner cavity of the frame. The first substrate includes an array of light generating sources. The apparatus further includes a second substrate overlaying the first substrate. The second substrate is translucent, and the second substrate is a material to which a tiling adhesive adheres.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A preformed niche for a method of installation in a recessed portion of a wall, the preformed niche comprising:
 a frame, prefabricated for insertion directly into the recessed portion of the wall, the frame including a backing panel and a plurality of sidewalls that form an integral structure of a high density foam, the plurality of sidewalls extending a uniform distance away from the backing panel such that a first end of each sidewall adjoins the backing panel and a second end of each sidewall adjoins with the surface during the installation of the preformed niche, the plurality of sidewalls forming a cavity with the backing panel; 
 a circuit substrate including an array of light generating sources, the circuit substrate disposed on the backing panel at a bottom of the cavity, and the circuit substrate including an electrical power connection to connect to a power source within the wall to supply power to the array of light generating sources thereon; and 
 a tiling substrate fixed in place in the cavity over the circuit substrate forming a water-proof seal to prevent moisture from reaching the circuit substrate, the tiling substrate being translucent and of a material to which a tiling adhesive adheres whereby tiles may be affixed thereto, and the tiling substrate being disposed in the frame such that an outward facing surface of the tiling substrate is recessed from the respective second ends of the plurality of sidewalls thereby forming a recessed shelf space along the recessed portion of the wall upon installation of the preformed niche, 
 wherein the method of the installation of the preformed niche comprises:
 inserting the preformed niche into the recessed portion of the wall; 
 securing the preformed niche in a fixed position; 
 connecting the electrical power connection to the power source within the wall; 
 applying the tiling adhesive to the tiling substrate and to the plurality of sidewalls; 
 applying at least one tile that is at least partially translucent to the tiling substrate in the cavity; and 
 applying at least one tile to each of the plurality of sidewalls. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The preformed niche according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a hole through the backing panel via which wiring from the electrical power connection of the circuit substrate passes. 
     
     
       3. The preformed niche according to  claim 1 , wherein the backing panel and the plurality of sidewalls are prefabricated of a high density foam as a unitary structure. 
     
     
       4. The preformed niche according to  claim 1 , wherein the array of light generating sources includes at least one of: light-emitting diodes (LED), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or thin-film EL. 
     
     
       5. The preformed niche according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical power connection includes a locking connector configured to connect to a hardwire line within the wall. 
     
     
       6. The preformed niche according to  claim 1 , wherein a material of the tiling substrate includes one of: acrylic, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
       7. The preformed niche according to  claim 1 , further comprising a remote to control the array of light generating sources. 
     
     
       8. The preformed niche according to  claim 7 , wherein the remote is configured to control the array of light generating sources via at least one of: Bluetooth, local area network, internet, radio frequency, or infrared frequency. 
     
     
       9. A preformed niche kit for a method of installation in a recessed portion of a wall, the preformed niche kit comprising:
 a frame, prefabricated for insertion directly into the recessed portion of the wall, the frame including a plurality of sidewalls that form an integral structure of a high density foam, the plurality of sidewalls adjoining with the surface during installation of the preformed niche, the plurality of sidewalls forming a cavity with the backing panel; 
 a fastener; 
 a circuit substrate including an array of light generating sources, the circuit substrate sized to fasten, via the fastener, to the backing panel at a bottom of the cavity of the frame such that the circuit substrate is disposed against the cavity, and the circuit substrate including an electrical power connection for connecting to a power source within the wall to supply power to the array of light generating sources thereon; 
 a tiling substrate of a material to which a tiling adhesive adheres, the tiling substrate being sized for installation to be fixed in place in the cavity over the circuit substrate forming a water-proof seal to prevent moisture from reaching the circuit substrate in the frame such that an outward facing surface of the tiling substrate is recessed from respective ends of the plurality of sidewalls thereby forming a recessed shelf space along the recessed portion of the wall upon installation of the preformed niche; and 
 a remote to control the array of light generating sources, 
 wherein the method of the installation of the preformed niche kit comprises:
 inserting the preformed niche kit into the recessed portion of the wall; 
 securing the preformed niche kit in a fixed position; 
 connecting the electrical power connection to the power source within the wall; 
 connecting the remote to the circuit substrate; 
 applying the tiling adhesive to the tiling substrate and to the plurality of sidewalls; 
 applying at least one tile that is at least partially translucent to the tiling substrate in the cavity; and 
 applying at least one tile to each of the plurality of sidewalls. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the tiling substrate is configured to transmit light emitting from the circuit substrate. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the circuit substrate includes at least one of: light-emitting diodes (LED), organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), or thin film EL (TFEL). 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the material of the tiling substrate is at least one of translucent or light diffusive, and includes one of: acrylic, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the remote controls the array of light generating sources disposed within the circuit substrate via one of: Bluetooth, local area network, internet, radio frequency or infrared frequency. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the frame includes a hole through the backing panel via which wiring from the electrical power connection of the circuit substrate passes. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the electrical power connection includes a locking connector configured to connect to a hardwire line. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the fastener includes an adhesive.